Forwarded message from Jon Kenny <[log in to unmask]>:

Three posts are now available based at the Parks and Gardens Database
Project offices at the Department of Archaeology, University of York.
Posts will be employed by the Association of Gardens Trusts and will be
for a fixed term until the end of August 2008.

Applications are invited for the positions of Web Manager, Data Manager
and Communications Coordinator.

Web Manager: This is an opportunity to take responsibility for the design,
implementation (in association with a team of contractors) and maintenance
of web based resources giving access to the Parks and Gardens database and
a set of demonstrator resources showing how Parks and Gardens data can be
used by a wide range of user groups. The salary is £25,000 per annum.

Data Manager: This is an opportunity to take responsibility for the
design, implementation (in association with a team of contractors) and
maintenance of an database and content management system to be made
available to the public through a set of web based resources. The salary
is £25,000 per annum.

Communications Coordinator: This is an opportunity to coordinate the
communication of the Parks and Gardens Database Project. Bringing together
and keeping informed the Management team, the project advisory groups, the
volunteer data collectors and the potential user groups. The salary is
£18,000 per annum.

For a full Job Description and details on how to apply please contact Dr
Jon Kenny by email on [log in to unmask] . Please state the post you are
interested in. If you would like details sent by post rather than
electronically please state your address. The closing date for
applications is Friday 16th December 2005. Informal enquiries may be
addressed to Dr Jon Kenny, email: [log in to unmask]

Further Information on the Parks and Gardens Database Project.

Background to Project The project will stimulate interest, deepen
understanding and enjoyment of historic parks and gardens and green spaces
in the UK through developing a web portal and accessible layered
information resource. It will strengthen and extend volunteer
participation in researching and recording parks and garden history, to
broaden engagement with and ownership of the resource and contribute to
its sustainability. The project will draw on diffused and very extensive
information resources that have not been co-ordinated, updated or
effectively targeted at key audiences. It will draw together these
disparate resources and work with all the different agencies in the sector
to create a unified view of this material. It will provide detailed depth
profiles of particular sites and thematic trails around garden and
landscape styles, features and designers. The project will provide
training and support for volunteer, professional and academic contributors
to use the system and a robust content management system to enable the
information resource to be refreshed and expanded with their
contributions. The project will create and make available online a web-
based portal which will provide access to over 6,000 basic records of
parks and gardens across England and Wales and c.1,000 sites in Scotland
and Northern Ireland. At least 500 of these records will provide more
detailed information, including historical context, narratives and other
in-depth content.

Project Organisation The Parks & Gardens Data Partnership (PGDP) is a
partnership between the Association of Gardens Trusts and the University
of York. Whilst the Project is currently in the name of the Association of
Gardens Trusts, it is the intention of the partners that a project
specific company will be formed to carry out the Project.

The partners have formed a Project Board that has overall responsibility
for the project, for relations with the Heritage Lottery Fund and whose
members will be the Directors of the Company. The Project Board consists
of six members who represent project and financial management, information
management, volunteer interests, technical services, content quality and
audience advocacy. An Advisory Panel providing regular advice regarding
intellectual and technical matters and user issues supports the Project
Board. Its remit will be both reactive, responding to questions from the
Project Team and the Project Board, and proactive, flagging up issues that
may have been overlooked. The Partners have also invited a larger group,
the Consultative Group, to represent a cross section of potential
interested organisations and users who will meet twice each year to
receive reports from the Project Board, the Project Manager and the
Advisory Panel. They will be invited to provide comments and feedback
based on their experience thus to ensure that voices from all user and
contributor sectors are heard.

A Project Manager has already been appointed who reports directly to the
Project Board and provides information relating to targets and performance
measures. The Project Manager works with and through the project partners
and volunteers. The Web Manager, Data Manager and Communications
Coordinator will form a team of senior managers reporting directly to the
Project Manager.